The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz will host their 22nd annual benefit gala on Oct. 7, 2023, raising critically important funds to support the expansion of the museum’s permanent collection and education programs.
The Dorsky Awards Fundraising Gala begins with a cocktail reception outdoors on the patio starting at 5 p.m., followed by a one-of-a-kind dinner experience within the Museum’s art galleries.
A variety of artists, tastemakers, museum patrons and friends will be in attendance, including lifetime achievement honoree Richard Hunt, who created the modern sculpture “Large Hybrid” that stands in the middle of New Paltz’s Walk of Honor. The sculpture was given to New Paltz by the Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs in 2002.
Other honorees this year include R&F Paints founder Richard Frumess, American contemporary artist Lesley Dill, and alumna Erin Dougherty ’22 (Sculpture).
Major sponsors include Floyd Lattin & Ward L.E. Mintz, West Strand Art Gallery, William Burback and Dr. Peter Hofmann, David and Penny Dell, Deborah and Brian Howes, Linda Sweet, Janine Tramontana, Gareth Old, Alanna Iacono, Joseph Bywater, Bobbi Esmark,
The Cronin Gallery and the SUNY New Paltz School of Fine and Performing Arts.
The Dorsky Museum thanks gala honorary chairs Anne Bailey, Jim Bailey, and Melvin Edwards for their enthusiastic, generous support.
Click here to purchase tickets to the 2023 The Dorsky Awards Fundraising Gala.
2023 Gala Awardees
Richard Hunt, Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award winner Richard Hunt’s distinguished art career spans nearly seven decades. At the age of 35, he became the first African American sculptor to have a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Hunt has held more than 150 solo exhibitions and is represented in more than 100 public museums across the globe. Hunt has made the largest contribution to public art in the United States, with more than 160 public sculpture commissions gracing prominent locations in 24 states and Washington, D.C. He has been a central figure in Civil Rights-era action and has commemorated many African American icons. His body of work explores themes of the African diaspora, African and Western art, mythology, and Hunt’s own ancestry, especially in relation to growth, expansion, freedom, movement, and flight.
Lesley Dill, Artist Award
The recipient of the Artist Award this year, Dill works at the intersection of language and fine art, exploring the power of words to cloak and reveal the psyche. With more than 100 solo exhibitions and works featured in more than 50 American museums, Dill’s friendship with The Dorsky began more than two decades ago when they organized a major exhibition of Dill’s art that toured nationwide.
Richard Frumess, Community Award
Frumess, the founder of internationally renowned R&F Handmade Paints and the recipient of this year’s Community Award, began as an artist but made a deliberate shift in medium from paint on canvas to the creation of social structures and lines of communication.
An innovative leader in encaustics, an influential educator in color theory, and a community builder, Frumess has dedicated himself to Kingston’s vibrant art community, including through his instrumental role in the 2022 exhibition Benjamin Wigfall & Communications Village.
Erin Dougherty ’22, Next Generation Award
The recipient of this year’s Next Generation Award, Dougherty is a shining example of dedication, creativity, and leadership. Dougherty first experienced The Dorsky during a Kingston High School field trip and went on to major in sculpture at SUNY New Paltz.
Throughout her studies, she worked at the Museum, culminating in her graduating thesis artwork being exhibited in our gallery. The Dorsky celebrates her accomplishments and future achievements.
About The Dorsky Museum
Through its collections, exhibitions and public programs, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art supports and enriches the academic programs at the College and serves as a center for Hudson Valley arts and culture. With more than 9,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over six galleries, The Dorsky Museum is one of the largest museums in the SUNY system. Since its official dedication in 2001, The Dorsky has presented more than 100 exhibitions, including commissions, collection-based projects, and in-depth studies of contemporary artists including Robert Morris, Alice Neel, Judy Pfaff, Carolee Schneemann and Ushio Shinohara.
Funding for The Dorsky’s exhibitions and programs is provided by the Friends of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art and SUNY New Paltz.
Museum Hours
Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, holidays and intersessions.
For more information about The Dorsky Museum and its programs, visit www.newpaltz.edu/museum or call (845) 257-3844.
